Menstrual cup misuse 'can cause pelvic organ prolapse'

Incorrect use of menstrual cups could be resulting in some women suffering pelvic organ prolapse, the Victoria Derbyshire programme has been told. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy wants some manufacturers to include better safety advice.

Menstrual cups fit into the vagina and collect period blood. They are not currently regulated in the UK, and there is no safety testing. Menstrual cups, which can last up to 10 years, have grown in popularity as a more sustainable alternative to single-use tampons and pads. But there are claims that more education is needed before women decide to use them.

There is limited research on the products, but in a report by the Lancet Public Health journal last year – which looked at 43 studies involving 3,300 women and girls living in rich and poor countries – the authors concluded menstrual cups were a "safe option".

But the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is calling for the cups, which are produced by a growing number of manufacturers worldwide, to be better regulated. Currently they are not safety-tested, and there is no industry standard or body responsible for collating complaints.

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Source: BBC News, 11 March 2020